Page 89 of The Lyon Whisperer
“Millicent wanted Huxley, you see. She came to tell me, to apologize, I suppose. She said she thought he loved her. When he told her he would never marry her, never make her his countess, she became distraught. To this day I do not know if it was affection for him or the desire for such a prestigious title that lured her in. Not that it matters.”
“He claimed he would not marry her? Yet, he did.”
Chase smiled a slow, pirate’s smile. His teeth gleamed white in the moonlit chamber. “Did I mention Millicent’s father, though not a lord, happened to be a very powerful, very wealthy banker?”
“No.”
“He was—is, in fact. When his only daughter informed him what transpired, he set about purchasing all of the Earl of Tully’s—Huxley’s father’s, that is—debts. He then called them due, unless his son came up to scratch and married his daughter.”
“I see,” she said. “And she told you all this?”
“She was quite pleased with herself, bringing Huxley to heel like that, and didn’t bother to hide the fact from me. It was the moment I realized what a near miss I had. Before that, she acted the perfect, demure lady.”
Amelia could not help herself. She heard herself ask, “Were you very hurt?”
“My pride was bruised, but as I said, I count it a near miss and a mighty lesson learned.”
“What lesson was that?”
“You never really know anyone. You can trust only one person in this world.”
“Who’s that?” she whispered, though she thought she already knew.
“Yourself.” He jabbed his chest with his thumb.
Not true,she thought.For I trust you, Chase Culver.
“Thank you for sharing your confidence with me. I shall guard your secret to the death. And I shall refrain from dancing with the scoundrel ever again.”
He reached up and combed her hair back from her face, tucking it behind one ear. “Or talking with him,” he purred.
She shivered and nodded.
“Good.” His fingers once again wove through her hair, lifting and sifting. “Now, if you would be so good as to tell me what else he said.”
Her lethargy born of a sense of contentment vanished in a blink. “Why do you assume he said anything else at all?”
“It stands to reason. You claim you did not believe his falsehoods regarding Millicent—”
“I didn’t,” she insisted.
“Yet something upset you greatly. Thus, whatever else he said must have caused it.”
Her mouth firmed. “It does not signify.”
He said nothing.
“Oh, very well. He pointed out that yours and your uncle’s estates were both in need of liquid cash. He also mentioned my…er…previous, unsuccessful seasons on the marriage mart.”
His hands unwound from her hair. He opened his arms wide in a gesture of evident bewilderment. “And?”
She scowled at him. He would make her say it? “When he coupled the two facts—your financial need and my near spinster status—he came to the natural conclusion the only reason you married me, and the reason for the rushed nuptials, was your desire to get your hands on my dowry. He implied you might use seduction as a means to cement my bond.”
“Your bond.”
“My compliance. My wifely submission.”
“How utterly absurd.”
